Thomas c



(Nomoael.)

T. C. COMSTOCK.

Watch Gase.

No. 238,856'. Patented March i5, 1881.

i`| 974 M l i HH x 1 Ml l umm 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

THOMAS C. COMSTOOK, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WATCH-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,856, dated March 15, 1881. Application filed July 2, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. CoMsTocx, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Watches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in watches in which the works are inclosed in a dust-proof box or case having glass or metal panels at the top and bottom, and said case secured in an outer case; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a dust-proof inner box or case having glass or metal panels at its top and bottom for receiving and holding the works of a watch; second, to provide the outer case of the watch with a stationary bezel on one side, against which one edge oi' theinner dust-proof box rests, and to afford means for securing the inner box inside of the outer case, and at the sametime secure the two sections of the inner box together; third, to provide a means for holding the L-shaped lever in position, so thatwhen the stem for winding is inserted through a hole in the outer case, and also through a hole in the inner case, alug on the lever is always in position to enter a retaininggroove formed in the winding-stem. l attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of the inner dust-proof box. Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view of the dial side of the works in one-half of the dust-proof box, showing the spring for holding the L-shaped lever in position. Fig. 3 is a section of the outer watchcase and the inner dust-proof box, showing the arrangement of the inner box in the outer case and the winding-stem inserted through holes in both. Fig. et is a section of the works, showing an edge view of the L-shaped lever with its lug and the spring for holding the lever in place; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the guide-spring employed to hold the L-shaped lever in position.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The subject -matter of this application is shown and described in my former application for improvements in watches, but is not therein broadly claimed, and the description of this improvementnecessitates a repetition of a considerable portion ot the specification of said former application. l

A represents the base ofthe movement. B is a milled knob used in winding the watch. C is the winding-stem. d is an L-shaped lever, provided with a lug, g, for holding the winding-stem in position,all ot' which are common in stem-winding watches.

The inner or dust-proof box is composed of two cylindrical cases, M M', united together at the ground joint 7c perfectly tight.

c represents a small hole through the cylinders at the joint 7c, in which the stem-winding shaft G is inserted.

The upper case, M, Fig. l, is provided with a small round hole, p, for another shaft to be inserted. (Shown in my former application.) The top and bottom edges, h h', are formed with bezels for holding and retaining in place crystals or metal panels, thus forming a tight box.

The outer case, A', is similar to ordinary cases, with the exception that one side is provided wit-h a stationary bezel, o', in which the case M', Fig. 3, is set. That portion of the case A' marked o2 is provided with a hole, 1J', to correspond with the hole p of the inner box, M, to receive a shaft for the regulator shown in my former application. The case A' is provided with two screws, r', in the rim o", one on each side, the heads of which are used for binding the two sections M M' of the dust-proof box together.

The end d' of the lever d is made thin and wide, and tits in the fork n of a very delicate guide-spring, m. The spring m is made fast to the base Aby a screw, 1*, and its forked end a is adjusted so that when it stands in its natural position it will hold the lever d so that its lug g will be immediately over the ordinary groove formed in the stem C when the steln is inserted. Vhen the stem C is insorted in the ordinary watch-case this spring is not essential, because the movement is put into the case with the dial off, and the lug g may be readily inserted; but with myimproved dust-proof box the spring m is necessary, because the dial is put onto the works and the works are inclosed in one of the boxes M or M', and there is no chance to get at the lever IOC l l l d to adjust the lug g into its receptacle in the stem. When the stem C is inserted in its place through its respective holes in the outer and inner cases, then by rotating the screw fi, which is on the exposed side of the base A, the lever d is moved or screwed down onto the base A, and the spring m holds the lever d and lug g in position to enter the annular groove formed in the stem, thus holding the winding-stem in position.

In setting up the watch the dial is secured to that side of the movement shown in Fig. 2 and the movement inserted in the case 1W This case M' is then inserted in the case A' of the watch, with the beveled edge h' resting` against the bezel o' ofthe case A'. When in this position the stem U is inserted and the screw t' rotated until the lug` g ofthe lever dis inserted in an annular groove formed in the shaft to prevent the shaft from coming out, after which the case M is placed on the case M', and the screws r' in the case A' turned un- 'til their heads secure the two sections M M' together, and also secure them in the case A'.

What I claim as new and desire to secure 7 by Letters Patent, 1s-

astationar immovablebezehc' combinedwiththe inner dust-proof case or box, M M', as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a watch, the inner dust-proof case or box, consisting of two short cylinders7 M M', the edges h h of each cylinder being provided with a bezel for holding crystals or metal panels, and the parts M and M' united by a grooved and ground joint, 7c, and provided with the hole c, half of which is in each section M and M', for the winding-shaft, and the section M provided with a small hole, p, for another shaft to operate in, as shown and described.

In testimony whereot'l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS C. GOMSTOCK.

Witnesses:

E. 0. FR1NK, GEORGE H. BENNETT. 

